Several forewords, prefaces and leaflets, written and signed by Martin Ulvestad, were discovered during the process of both transcribing from Dano-Norwegian Gothic script and translating into English his 1907 and 1913 books [covers years 1825-1913]. These enormous books containing nearly 1,400 pages were written in a unique Gothic script called 1883 Fraktur, which is a form of blackletter font. In Ulvestad’s own words, he describes “How” he compiled the Norwegian-American pioneer data by sending out 163,000 small books and pamphlets along with 450,000 circulars and forms to the early immigrants and their families. By Ulvestad compiling a series of personal information, he explained “Why” divulging personal records would strengthen the Norwegian-American immigrant history.

Martin Ulvestad published the following 1907 (two sizes) and 1913 books that are now republished by Astri My Astri Publishing as a 3-volume series:

1907, no volume number on the spine, given to correspondents who assisted Ulvestad

Pages 503-871: list of 25,000 individuals sorted by 1,700 locations emigrated from in Norway, assisting in the formation of lags such as Sognalag, Telelag and Trønderlag), [transcribed, translated and republished as Volume 2 (2011)]

The following text written by Martin Ulvestad was transcribed from the Gothic script, translated into English and is now presented in a bilingual English-Norwegian format in order to more fully explain “How” and “Why” Ulvestad published the 1907 and 1913 books. The source material was gathered from seven different sites:

1907 Foreword/Forord, Vol 1:3,4 (2010):

Foreword

Have we — modern Norwegians in America — seen and understood what our forefathers have done for us? Have we ever shown them that we properly appreciate their struggles, sufferings and deprivations — that benefited us? Have we made sure that their memory could live among us, and our descendants?

Have we done everything, we could, to regain Mother Norway’s love, which was partially lost through contempt, because we left her and traveled to a land, which she had heard so many bad things about, who she harbored prejudice against or where she thought that we in a way, had wasted our potential? Has she been told about, what her children have done and achieved over here, so that there could be mutual esteem — and interaction with common comfort and advantage? (Conjectures, gossip — and bragging from certain quarters — has only been damaging.)

Do we have the necessary understanding about ourselves? — An acquaintance from which, we could come to understand our own power and how we could build upon it? —

Would not it be both justified and important for us, to link Norway’s history to North America’s? Would it not be good to note the fact that this land was first discovered by the Norwegians, and that the Norwegians later took a prominent part in its clearing and development?

It was these and similar questions and thoughts, which in time, I felt were valid to me and which gave impetus for the labor, the ultimate result we now find in this book.

However, here I will hurry to make the remark that I have not given us Norwegians, credit for more than, what the Americans have given us credit for. — (That which they have spontaneously awarded us, which is otherwise based on facts, we may well accept and preserve for our children without taking action against our sense of modesty and without making any infraction of etiquette.) In this context, I would also like to be allowed to call attention to that. When I seldom have pointed out our shortcomings, for example, causing disagreements, our mutual partiality, etc. that it is not because I wanted to overshadow those things (shortcomings), but because it would hardly be appropriate to draw them out into other connections than what is done here.

To judge the book is, of course, not my place. Instead, I mention the expenses that have been associated with the work; for this is surely not inappropriate — and is for me unfortunately, a necessity.

To arouse interest in this matter and to find those who wanted to help me, with further details, I have sent out 163,000 smaller books and pamphlets, which included the results of my first “collection” work in this area; over the last six years I have also sent out approximately 450,000 circulars and forms. A number of these printed materials have obviously been wasted; but they have cost me thousands of dollars, which one must probably acknowledge. Paper, printing, postage, etc., require large sums, of course, when it is on such a large scale. My many travels have also cost a great deal. In addition, when there was no support from the state or any business, all the charges fell on me alone — with the consequence, that I now have a considerable debt.

Those, who have tried it, know that when there are no writings or records to go to, it is associated with numerous difficulties and expenses, even if it is just one county or settlement, you wish to provide historical and statistical information about — and here there were more than 500 counties, as well as Canada. I cherish the hope, however, that our people will buy the book (if it deserves it) and thus remove the debt.

Moreover, since I now have health concerns, I put my humble pen completely away. I say thank you to the party leaders and newspapermen, who by putting up barriers along the way, have motivated my efforts. However, a more heartfelt thank you to those of my countrymen and the newspapers, who sympathetically helped me to complete this impartial labor — yes, again I will say thank you, to them. At the same time, I hope that those who thought I was too aggressive will excuse me, as the kind of information about the Norwegian-American people that was most needed, would not be procured without aggressiveness.

In this connection, I will take the liberty of telling a true anecdote about myself. It goes so:

Naturally people became weary of Martin Ulvestad (me) and the consequence was often that they refused to take my questionnaires out of the post office; they let them be sent back to Minneapolis where I lived. Then I had the clever idea of changing the name. On the envelope, I printed for example, Publisher of Statistics, Publisher of Norway etc. In addition, when I could not come up with more names that suited, I sent the letters without a name — that is, no name or return address. Just the same, it happened that they did not wish to accept them, since from the postmark they saw that they came from Minneapolis — and from me obviously. Then I moved to Oregon.

And — while I have been busy with the work — and always felt pressed with its associated costs, the advocates for Det norske Selskab (The Norwegian Society) has been busy telling (through newspapers) that they will publish a similar work.** And people who have believed and waited for them have naturally found it superfluous to support me.

** We will note that I have had a couple of personal enemies in this Society, and that it was they, who in this manner sought an opportunity to injure me. Moreover, in this way they also had the chance to advertise themselves. The society itself is without fault. However, should these men actually decide to publish a similar book then perhaps this one (now finished) will be of help? Perhaps they will restrain themselves from using my work since I (unfortunately) do not possess what can be called a higher education. It is in any case, the only defense I can think of in this case, but may possibly not be relied upon. These advocates (not the Society) are of the sort to take the fruits of the toil and drudgery of others.

However, in as much as one works for a good cause and has sufficient faith in it, one will be in a position to continue. Instead of complaining, I will give thanks. All that is significant about the Norwegian-American people I have now managed to scrape together — been given information about. The finances will also straighten themselves out.—Author.

Here I will allow myself to mention some of the things I have kept in mind during the collection and sorting of material for this portion of the book.

Now finally, I must agree with myself that Compilation of Norwegian Communities in America will make it possible for these communities to find each other. And also I had hoped that it would be a means by which even more Norwegians who have spread beyond North America’s plains to come to light so that their own should reach them. (Any of those who are mentioned here can in all likelihood give information on someone who is not mentioned, and if one then collects everyone’s knowledge on this, then it can amount to much knowledge; in this way it will be possible to receive news on anybody).

Aye — I had hoped that this compilation will help many a dear son or brother, relation or friend that one has lost track of to be found again, —

That it will build a bridge — not just only between us Norwegian-Americans, but also between us and our brethren beyond the Atlantic, —

That it will form the foundation for a society whereby our common interests can be taken care of, —

That it will give the readers an idea of what strength (in the spiritual as well as the physical sense) that the respective places and regions of Norway has bestowed upon America, —

And that it will preserve for history and for the future generations all these Norwegian names: personal names and names of towns, villages and larger regions there at home, but especially those names that Norwegians have endowed upon American soil and which one finds time and time again in the form of addresses — cities and post offices.

But my most important motive for this compilation was that we could form groups from the communities. There is certainly not anything that can bind us together and encourage us more to take care of memories of the home and on things that are in connection with or emanates from that, than if we, if cradles stood side by side and were to later share life’s joys and hardships, could now once again come together or at least exchange letters and writings. Of such factions, or whatever we would call them, I of course also thought we could create a common group — a Norwegian society in America. And further: I thought that with the unified thinking [of this group] this would urge things on, thereby one would know what the Norwegian people had accomplished and which creditable positions many of our communities and countrymen of old had reached here in America. If there is nothing one can point at, — nothing one can look up to and be enthusiastic about, — it will then go bad with the unified thinking as well.

It was therefore this that I had set my mind to when I began my collection. And therefore it has pleased me to see that some of those who throughout the years I had bombarded with circulars and pamphlets have begun to create Norwegian societies and other groups of the above-mentioned nature. But we needed material as said, and it is that which is now at hand, — I hope. (In this connection I shall call attention to the fact that the two advocates for the Norwegian Society I spoke of earlier in the book [Vol. I, page 198, 2010 edition] who had made an effort to damage my work, and now that the rumors have almost outplayed their roles also as advocates, — I therefore entertain the best hopes and best wishes for the society’s future).

In this compilation of communities I could obviously not list others than those whose hometowns I knew. It would however have been dear to me to mention many more of our countrymen whose whereabouts, business and so forth I received information about and which the foregoing statistics are built.

In comparison to the book’s first part [Vol. I, 2010 edition] where I had permanent correspondents with laid-out territories, and which therefore became as complete as it (of its type) was possible to get it, this (second) part must almost be considered as a work of leisure, — even though it has not been without problems and expenses.

Respectfully, The compiler.

Explanations

Here again in the second part, I have tried to organize things so that it should take up a minimum of space. Explanations that otherwise might occur in connection with the different names or at the bottom of every page [footnotes* that were moved by the translator to be closer to the name or places concerned], I have actually now arranged so that one will find them all at once, so please take note so that the whole method will be correctly understood:

All these communities exist, (or more correctly said, existed at the time the reports for this work was submitted), unless otherwise annotated. And the vast majority were born in Norway, while a few were born here in America of parents whose places or towns there at home have been given in the book.

Places of birth are therefore organized alphabetically; but also the person’s names are listed alphabetically below, so that one can quicker find the person or persons sought. However, there are (in regards to personal names) exceptions to this rule. In places where I knew that a person belongs to the one and same family, I have placed them together even though the names are different, for example: Gullick Pedersen (father) and Anders Gullicksen (son) [explanation of paternal naming system in Norway, Vol. I page 8, 2010 edition]. One will also note that the one and same name is often written differently (by the different bearer [owner]) for example: Grov, Grove, Groven; Dale, Dahle, Dahley and so forth. The Norwegian farm name I have added whenever it was known to me. Unfortunately it is not always that one uses it here in America.

When one or another town in Norway is given as ones place of birth, it is not always the town itself that is meant, but the town’s immediate vicinity.

As far as rural districts are concerned it has been rather difficult to pinpoint the exact place. I had of course to list the place of birth that they themselves — or the correspondents — gave to the best of their ability. But some gave the farm or the town name, whilst others gave the parish or the name of the county. Therefore it will be necessary for the reader to search the different places (within the one and same area). If a person from Søndmøre for example wants to have information of all the people from his community that are here listed, then it is not enough for him to search under Søndmøre; he must also search under Aalesund, Borgund, Gursko, Herø, Hjørundfjord, Nordalen, Søkelven, Søvden, Ulfsten, Vanelven, Vigerøen, Volden, Ørskaug, Ørsten and other places that he knows are in Søndmøre. And accordingly for all the other places in Norway as well. In this way one will get the projected as well as the maximum result from this here, collected personal information. (The reason for this part of the book you will find explained on the previous page [Preface]).

A number of the here listed Norwegians have had town positions; but the office itself I have not mentioned except for in certain special cases. It seemed to me to be more important to mention the person’s main occupation (life’s occupation). Therefore I have listed other (higher) and paying positions after the names of those who now have or have had posts of that type. On the latter one will find a more detailed report in a separate section earlier in the book [Norwegians in public positions in America]. And about the soldiers one will find further information on in the section Norwegians in American Wars.

The term “f. s.” is used where the person was the first or one of the first settlers in his or her town or neighborhood. But those who turned out to be the very first in their respective counties, one will find as we know, in the settlement’s history earlier in the book [Vol. I, 2010 edition] and not here. Most of the pioneers now rest below the turf. Honor is to their memory! — M. U.

Ulvestad’s friendly appeal leaflet written between the 1907 and 1913 books:

A friendly appeal to each and every one of my work’s readers.

If you, through reading my already published book, find that I have left out any of the earliest Norwegian pioneers, new settlers or people that cleared the land, — or anyone who took part in the American wars, — or anyone who has held an official office in a county or state, — or any of our pioneers in church or school, — or any books, writings or periodicals published by Norwegians in America, — or if a mistake has crept in somewhere, I invite you to write to me about it. In the case that you feel that you yourself cannot give enough information in regard to they, or to what you find left out, then give me the address on someone you think can give me comprehensive information.

Now the work has come so far that anyone can help. Now we have a book before us with information about many people and things, by means of which our thoughts and reminiscence lead to others of the same grouping that should also have been mentioned. I shall therefore avail myself of the perception and the opportunity the published book has produced. At the same time I ask the readers for further information. And I know that the second volume where such information is to be printed will be as complete as it is humanly possible to get it, as long as we all help. It should also be of interest to you that the second volume will be as complete as possible as it shall become your property. (It shall arrive free of charge as promised as you bought the first. This offer is also valid for those who now buy the first volume. Tell people of this, and do whatever you can for sales, and I will be very grateful to you. I have no other compensation for my toils and outlays than that which I receive from the buyers. As you know, the price is $4.75).

Here I will also reveal that if there are any of your — to America emigrated kinsmen or acquaintances, of whom you wish to have knowledge, then go to one or another of my representatives in your neighborhood, from whom you will for free have the opportunity go through and see a long list of names etc. in the book my correspondents have been sent, which actually contains a section called Compilation of Norwegian communities in America, and there you will find information on communities. The main purpose of this section was otherwise so that one could form communities such as Sognalag, Telelag, Trønderlag etc. Before such

lag [groups] could be formed it was actually necessary to find out where people from the different settlements were staying, so that one could write to them to form their groups. Many such are already formed and they will better than any single person or any other society in collecting and storing detailed information about people from their respective districts in Norway. That list of communities has thus been, and still is useful in that it has enabled the creation of community historical societies. And since the list with information on ca. 25,000 individuals can be found in those books that my correspondents in different communities have received, it is no longer printed. It would therefore be an unnecessary outlay for me.

But do not forget to send me information on pioneers and things in general of such that is desirable and suitable for printing in the future volume of Nordmændene i Amerika, deres Historie og Rekord. [Norwegians in America, their history and record]. Let us help each other and promote the work for a good cause, which will only come into its own after the present generation rests in its grave, but which will then be doubly appreciated.

Notation about Ulvestad’s sources of material listed in the front of the 1913 book, Volume 3 [2012]:

Also I have picked some information from the Norwegian-American newspapers.

And in here I wish to thank everyone.

In the content of my book there is approximately 5%, which I have borrowed from the above sources [books, pamphlets, periodicals, newspapers]. The majority of the information I have actually collected in other ways. I have personally visited 822 places in America and have sent out so many letters that I would rather try to forget the number. Many have been lost; but I am happy and grateful that I was able to find someone nearly at every place, who were willing and dedicated enough to give me information thereof. Norge i Amerika [Norway in America] with maps over the Norwegian settlements, which I published earlier, was also a great deal of help to me during the compilation of both the first and this (Volume 3) of Nordmændene i Amerika [Norwegians in America].

Table of Contents and the necessary explanations are found at the end of this book.

If such a title was possible, I should have called my work a Basis for further information about Norwegians in America; as it covers mainly things that can eventually be used as a step or a source to make it possible for historians to continue the writing.

From ancient times we know that writing history that (because no indisputable information had been found amassed) was built on legends and presumptions, has led almost only to debate — with argument against argument — and has therefore been of doubtful value. As far as Norwegians in America were concerned, it was really about time right now, that whilst there were still some pioneers left alive, who alone could give reliable basic information, to have these [pioneers] convened. Later on it would be too late.

Apart from historical and statistical facts (see Vol. of this work) [Vol. 1 (2010) and Vol. 2 (2011), I have as one now sees, tried to put together a series of personal information, that strictly speaking does not belong in history nor where one would normally find thousands of men mentioned. But I have done what I have done, primarily because I believed that our people’s divulged personal record would strengthen the history. When one for example can point to 100,000, who either were forerunners, or who hold representative and respectable positions in the community, then it speaks better and stronger for that nationality that they belong to rather than if one could only point to 100 such people.

Besides, I have always believed, and now begin to see — evidence that the more and the better the information our people in Norway receive about their emigrated sons and daughters, their lives, their endeavors and their nature, the better will be the understanding and the solidarity, the stronger the bridge between them and greater the good things that one would exchange and share in the future for mutual happiness and prosperity.

This information can thus also have its use when there is something more one would like to know about some of the persons who are mentioned. Or when any of their descendants make themselves distinguished, one will thereby be able to ascertain that they are of Norwegian descent. After all, it has happened that the Swedes, Danes or others have made claim of the same famous personalities (and perhaps with just as much right) as the Norwegians, only because there was no positive link found to the origin of the person in question.

There are a number whose birthplace in Norway, year of emigration and so forth that I have not been able to ascertain, but still I have listed them because they belong to those groups that deserve it, which I had set myself the goal to include. The majority of the people I mentioned in Norge i Amerika [Norway in America], published in 1901, or in Sammenstilling af norske Sambygdinger i Amerika [Compilation of Norwegian communities in America], published in 1907, I have not mentioned in this — my last work. Men who are not found here, one must search for there, if one wishes information about them.

Changes of addresses, deaths and so forth cannot destroy the benefit of the work, which many (without thinking) seem to believe. The given information after all, as far as that goes, is correct, and will always be what what they were; furthermore they will as said — serve as a link to further information, not only about the people and things mentioned here, but through them also about others — in short, almost anywhere in America where Norwegians are found, especially where they are found in colonies.

But the work and the plan have become misunderstood and unappreciated by so many because they have not had enough interest to familiarize themselves with the work. The index one has not bothered to read, and the historical and statistical information that is found interposed between the rows of names, and otherwise at the bottom [footnotes — now moved closer to the names concerned by the translator], one has not noticed. Nor has one bothered to take a look at the included maps [a large two-sided foldout map was included in the original version of 1907] whereupon there has also been laid out a massive amount of work and money, and which show what parts of this country that the Norwegians have cleared, where they have cast an eye about as forerunners and farmers, where they have erected churches and schools, where they have given post offices and cities and townships Norwegian names, and where they in other ways have given the Norwegian nation worthy appraisals, which is why they deserve a deep-felt thanks, not solely from their fatherland whose ambassadors they have been; but mostly from their adoptive country and their descendants who receive direct gain from their self-sacrifice and pioneer work. Aye, there are also a number of times when Norwegian pioneers had to sacrifice their life. That the information that I thus have tried to collect and store will at some time be made use of — I am positive; but it [period of time] is far too close to the present time for today’s relatives to be interested; which is why my toil over the years has been desecrated. However, it has been acknowledged by a few, of which I am glad, that it has already helped procure the understanding about the emigration of people from Norway, which was the main aspiration of this work.

Complete satisfaction up till now could hardly be expected, at least not for the general reader; as the sphere of study was too large and too new. It encompasses after all an equally long, as a varied migration, in such a large country as America, where moreover, in a few cases, no road had been paved for such a work. I had to try and work my way through the unknown and when I found some of what I was searching for I had to shorten it to the utmost. When every Norwegian settlement had to be included I could not give every single one of them as much space in my books as the readers wished. But I willingly grant that the task would have been better solved if a better man (and not an ordinary every day person such as I), would have taken on the task; or if there had been help from societies or a government grant, which one usually gets for such works. Or if we Norwegians were not by nature such that we would rather compete against each other than be helpful to each other. Of the latter cause — the sale by agents of the first volume was suddenly destroyed, which is why I myself had to go from house to house to (for sales) procure funds to continue the work further and to this I had to offer the second volume free of charge to everyone who supported me by buying the first, — a promise that will now be my pleasure to fulfill. But what I regret is that so much of my time that should have been applied to the actual work which thereby may have been a little better than it is, had to be used on sales. However, it is as good as I through circumstances managed to get it, and then I do have the satisfaction of knowing that my opponents have not received a worse review therein than my friends. It is absolutely impartial.

As previously indicated, it has been my intention (not through boasting, which would have been easier, but through matter of fact information presented such that whosoever can analyze them, if one wished), to show that the Norwegian-American people are — despite their shortcomings — a good people, whose influence and nature their descendents in particular should learn to know and thereby be encouraged to continue to promote that which is good, for oneself and for ones country. It is after all acknowledged as a great legacy to be born of people of good standing. But before there can be a legacy of coming from good people, one must learn to feel it and know and understand that it was good.

Whilst the first volume of Norwegians in America essentially includes the Viking expeditions and other pre-history, along with aspects from the pioneers’ immigration to, and their first stay in America, as well as historical and statistical information of their activities in general, about their participation in the wars, of their positions in public life, about congregation work, churches, schools, charities, periodicals, book publishing, music, temperance activity and more, this (volume two) [Vol. 3, 2012] includes for the most, personal information at the same time as I (in connection with their leaders) have mentioned as many as possible of the associations. But also in this volume is found quite a number of historical stories. I ask people to read the table of contents (back of the book) and follow it so that this work will not be misunderstood — or the most important — disregarded.